Colville comeback falls short

September 22, 2011

For the first time in three games, the Colville High offense came to play last Friday at Newport in the Northeast A League opener for both football teams.
It has been a frustrating early-season for the Indians (0-3, 0-1) so far. Coming into the Newport game, CHS hadnâ€™t scored a touchdown from scrimmage.
But that all changed at Newport--the Indians roared back from a 27-7 deficit to nearly pull out a much-needed win.
But Newport (3-0, 1-0) held on to record a 33-28 win.
â€śWe had some great chances,â€ť CHS head coach Randy Cornwell said. Newport kept giving the ball back to us in the second half.â€ť
Unfortunately, Colville had trouble stopping the quick-strike Newport offense in the second and third quarters. The Indians surrendered 21 second quarter points and 12 more in the third quarter.

Defensive issues in the second and third quarters

â€śOur defense just disappeared in the second and third quarters,â€ť Cornwell said. â€śIt was just pretty much non-existent.â€ť
Newport fumbled five times and lost three of them. That helped the Indians get back in what turned out to be a wild one in the Northeast A League.
Colville had two turnovers.
CHS certainly amassed enough yardage and time of possession to win their first game of the season. The Indians ran off 61 plays to Newportâ€™s 38 and rushed 50 times for 237 yards. Quarterback Alex Pond, looking more comfortable behind center and in the spread each week, was six of 11 through the air for 132 yards and a 15-yard touchdown pass to Logan Carpenter.
Colton Davis led the Colville offense with a career-high 154 yards rushing on 21 carries. The senior scored on 35 and five-yard runs.
Carpenter caught three passes for 92 yards and a touchdown.
Julio Valencia and Zach Shoemaker combined for 92 yards on 18 carries.
Newport totaled 361 yards. The Grizzlies rushed for 280 yards and passed for another 81 (three of six).
But Colvilleâ€™s defense was too inconsistent on a night when the quick-footed Grizzlies burned the Indians time and time again on big plays.
Newport scored on 13, 41 and 55 yard runs. They also went over the top on a 65-yard pass and run play.
â€śWe just couldnâ€™t stop their big plays,â€ť Cornwell added. â€śThatâ€™s what Newport has been doing to teams so far.â€ť

RECAP
Colville got on the board first in the opening quarter after the two teams traded punts.
Davis capped the eight-play, 87-yard drive with a nine-yard scoring run. The drive started late in the first quarter and culminated when Davis ran in at the 11:13 mark of the second quarter.
Big play was a scramble by Pond, who in the grasp of a couple of Newport defensive players, found Carpenter across the middle for 47 yards to the NHS 40.
Shoemaker ran twice for eight yards and Pond hooked up with Carpenter again for 23 yards to the Grizzliesâ€™ 15-yard line on the last play of the scoreless opening quarter.
Cornwell likes what heâ€™s seeing from Pond at quarterback. The 6-5 senior has never played the position before, but heâ€™s an athlete.

THIS WEEK
It doesnâ€™t get any easier for Colville this week. The Indians travel to East Valley on Friday. Game time is 7 p.m.
EV (1-2) gave Post Falls (3-1) of the Inland Empire 5A League all it wanted last Friday night at home before succumbing 49-35.
Post Falls outscored East Valley 21-7 after halftime.
Taylor Watkins completed 20 of 33 passes for 237 yards and four touchdowns. J.T. Phelan and Gage Burland both caught a pair of touchdown passes from Watkins.

INJURY REPORT
Thompson may not play this week with his injured shoulder. And Jack Smith, an active 220-pound sophomore, injured a knee (ligaments) against Newport.
â€śThatâ€™s a big blow,â€ť Cornwell said. â€śWe fear the worst.â€ť